Welcome to Builders' 101. We will enjoy helping you with all of your questions with regards to every aspect of building from the inception of the idea to the uploading of the lot and Promoting your Asset. This is an opportunity "To Learn Together": You from us and us from you.

Please follow the forum rules when making posts. You will find them here. Forum Rules.
Please take a moment to read them. Thanks.

JOIN US AND LET'S LEARN TOGETHER

This is for all Simmers, of all ages and all abilities who want to build or are already building! Do you feel that you have no idea what to do, where to start? Why did that Lovely House you worked so hard on just slip by unnoticed?

Here we are going to learn 'New Ideas' and get 'Tips and Tricks' from each other and share our 'Ideas and Creations'. We will learn from each other and together we will all grow to become better builders.

HOW IT WORKS

Take pictures of your Work In Progress (WIP) and share it with us on this thread. (See Picture Posting below). Our visitors will look at it and give you constructive tips about his or her ideas on what each thinks you could or should do with your WIP. You will receive comments that may be seen as negative, but please, remember it is only to help you become a better builder. The opposite is also true: You will get a lot of praise for good work and ideas, etc.

Post a link to your build here with links to photo’s, stories or video! We can all have a look at what you’ve built and learn from it, or help you to make the lot better. Get somebody else's view on your build. or ask any question about building. If one of us doesn't know the answer, we can find an answer to your question or problem. Any link to wherever you promoted your build. But wait, did you promote your build? More about promoting your build later.

Thinking of Taking the Plunge and Becoming a New Builder
Or Maybe You've Already Taken the Plunge but are Unsure!

Let’s start with what it is you want to do or learn and work from there.

Novice, Intermediate, Good, All Levels of Builders:

START, POST, LEARN

Remember whatever is said is the opinion of the person posting, the decision to use it or not lies solely with you.

TIME FOR HOMEWORK

Updated: It is now called Learn to Build. You will find it on TS3 Creators' Consortium. Registration is free and it is a fun site for all aspects of TS3.

Comments

The best size for posting pictures on the thread is 640px wide by 480px high.

Change the size right in your post. Just right after the .jpg key in "width=640" "height=480" before the final [/IMG] tag.

There are many programs and websites that can be used to change the size of the picture to be posted.

Magician1: for example uses ‘Irfanview’ (See link below) to resize. "I open the picture in question in Irfanview and then click on ‘Images’ ‘Resize/Resample’ then I type in the Horizontal value: 640. In the Vertical Value : 480 and click 'OK'. Save the Picture. Then I go to the following Website : Photobucket and load my picture there and once done, I copy the 'Image Code' and paste it in the body of my post on the thread."

MerryWiddow: "I use TinyPic.com. You can upload your screenshots directly from your Screenshots folder. Then at the tinypic site you can change the size to a width of 640px and a height of 480px. After you upload it, the site gives you the links needed. Use the one that says it's for forums. Just copy from the tinypic site and paste it in the thread body"

You can also take the picture from the picture sharing site of your choice and change the size right as you upload it. Just choose the forum size of 640 x 480 pixels.

CHANGING THE COVER PICTURE

Well there are a couple of methods to change the cover picture of your lot. This is the one both Magician1 and MerryWiddow use. It is by simmer Zinda799. It is very easy to use and safe.

To prepare a picture for this wonderful program you will need to create a square 512 x 512 .png file. How do I do that you ask?

There is a good free program called Irfanview that you can use to edit your photographs. A tutorial available call Ten Things You Can Do With Irfanview will help you to understand this versatile program. Magician1 uses this program and MerryWiddow uses Adobe Photoshop Elements.

Because most Downloaders look for a Specific lot at the time they need it.

What makes them pick one lot over another is the cover picture.
And whichever lot is closest to the front. Don't want to go looking through 58 pages of lots. So, High recs bring a lot to the top and Featured lots.

What he/she said, first impressions are important. Most times I just glance at the first page and see if anything catches my eye.

What usually does is either sweet looking country houses or super modern ones. I don't usually go for the big mansions, a. because they take forever to load when you download them, and b. they're not practical! Why would you need an eleventy bedroom house? You can have eight sims at a time, plus a guest bedroom if ya need it.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to organize a thread dedicated to helping people expand their building potential. Even though I'm just reading through it for the first time, I will definitely use some of the old assignments as templates for lots I create. Nice job.

Now as for what I look for when I download... This may very well be just me, but I pay particularly close attention to the level of detail and how much character a building has. Are there a lot of interesting pattern and color choices, or did the creator just pull something from build mode without making some adjustments in create a style (when applicable)? Is the building a glorified box, or are there interesting angles and niches? How about landscaping? I don't really prefer one style (like modern, suburban, etc.) because I try to match the sims with where they live - this means lots of variety for my neighborhoods. If it's a community lot, I like to find something that won't stick out in the area of town I place it in. And although I like a polished, finished look, I also try to see if there is just a little bit of room for me to make expansions or changes if I would decide to keep the lot for a few generations. I personally enjoy making small changes as my sims age so that the buildings they live in/visit don't seem to stay static but instead develop with them, kind of like real life.

Ok, apologies if that's more info than you needed. I'm going to bookmark your thread - I'm looking forward to seeing what you all create next.

These are some of the things that are important to me when downloading houses etc...

1. Cover Pic - a good cover pic will catch my eye, but it's not going to make me download the creation on its own.

2. Form over function - the design may be radical, ingenious or the house/lot may be breathtaking, but how playable will it actually be? Has the builder made something that looks fantastic, but plays like a lame dog? Can I judge this from the pictures and/or floorplans?

3. Lot description - amusing descriptions always encourage me, but what I really want to know is what I will be getting if I download, not just rooms/spaces, but any perks or tricks (are there fish? harvestable plants? interesting gadgets?).

4. Custom/Premium Content - personally, I'm unlikely to download anything that contains Premium Items from the store (yes, I know if I haven't got it, the game will substitute - but I still tend to avoid those lots/houses). Likewise, if there is any other CC (EA or other), I want to know about it before I download it. Put the fact that you've used your own custom patterns/CC/whatever in the description, please! Then I can decide whether I want it or not, and I don't spend my time cussing some unknown creator when I'm trying to get rid of "X" patterns or CC.

5. Lot size - huge lots/mansions, no thanks. Strange-shaped lots that mean I have to bulldoze the Spa/Bistro/Library, no thanks (though CAW will make this less irritating).

Basically, I'm looking for lots/buildings that look nice/interesting (they don't have to be the most amazing masterpiece ever), don't jar with their surroundings (please don't terrain paint right up to the very edge of your lot unless you're going to give me a fence or some other break between your lot and the terrain beyond it), show some originality, but most important of all, play well!

But those are just my thoughts, and I'm sure plenty of people will disagree!

I would suggest more starter homes that still have some uniqueness and personality to them. There seems to be alot of large homes in comparison to small homes which are also needed.

Mansions...although beautiful for the rich, doesn't always meet the needs of the lower to middle income families.

I do look for functionality( does the home come with study or hobby needs outside of bookcases (i.e. chess table, telescope, gym equipment, guitar, garden, etc).

I would love to have Sunset Valley house a number of homes from all income brackets. I like personality or atmosphere more than just beauty. I ask myself does the home look inviting, friendly, homey, comfortable, is it functional, is there a garden? I look for things of this sort.

I would like to see homes/apartments that have more of an inner city look to them. I think dirt/grime/chipped bricks/ and graffiti has it's place amongst some cities.

I will be checking out the Creative Corner to learn how to start building myself and to hopefully be able to contribute to the community.

I'm not sure if what I posted helps, but, these are my thoughts.

Oh, what about more brownstone homes? I'm no architect and I am not sure if that's the right terminology but I hope you get my meaning.

I would like to make Sunset Valley or Riverview to look more like realistic cities.

Thanks for your interest in what downloaders are looking for.

Another note, I agree with a couple of other posters... I try not to download Premium content because although I might like the home I see posted...it may be part of the Premium content that drew me in and if I don't have it...it kinda spoils it for me.

Here's another thought...garages are often times used for more than just parking cars...i.e. workshops!

Grounding the homes/plants/ and such look more realistic than just having them placed. I tend to ground quite a bit of them when I do add them to the game with some dirt, worn out grass, weeds, something...just to make it more realistic.

Well, I got long winded...sorry. Hope this helps!

tolkien1001 wrote:I like old styled houses with a nice garden. Rivers with bridges make a nice touch.
Victorian,winter themed, asian and wooden houses.

I recommend leaving the roof alone. Each time I build a large home with an Angled room or area and a basement. There is always issues with the roof, so unless you know CFE well and know how to level an entire floor I recommend leaving it alone. I am going to include a few interior items, cuz they will fit the room, I'm thinking of. It will be CC, so hoping it transfers. Mainly talking about the theater. Otherwise, I will be looking forward to seeing your WIPs progress. I don't want this to be a contest. There is no money, medals, or simpoints involved, so lets share and get inspiration from each other.

If you're into Interior Design Sim Interior Design Ltd (SID) is an interesting site. For a good place to see the latest creations in Machinima check out Simatography where you will find a Screening Room and Studio. On the top of our list for Building sites is Builders' Boulevard (BB). On this site you need to become a member, but it is well worth it and, of course, it's free.
Magician1

There are many ways to promote your build. Simply uploading your screenshots from your game to TS3 and creating a story is the simplest way. See the tutorial Tutorial: Bring Media Into Story Tool by SimGuruWeb. If you have any questions after seeing this tutorial please ask.

Taking the screenshots is best done with a sim in residence. In live mode you will have a very powerful and valuable tool for taking great pictures. The tool is called by many "Cameraman Mode" and is accessed by pressing the 'Tab' key. Once you are in this mode, you will not be able to use your mouse to give commands. Your mouse will move the camera like it is your head turning. Other ways of moving the camera are using the following keys given with their function.

The key on the left moves the camera in the direction listed. This movement is like you walking around the room.

The following two are different from the 'w' and the 's' because they do not move the camera. They move the 'lens' so to speak. They can give an elongated or fisheye view. So be very careful using these commands. They are, however, great for taking pictures in tight spots like bathrooms.

Okay... So I have a couple of lots that haven't made the 100 mark yet. I consider the 100 mark to be the criteria for continuing to keep a lot posted on my page for downloading on the Exchange. I have recently learned how to upload with a cover picture, and those builds have exceeded 100 DLs. I work really hard to make beautiful creations, and it saddens me greatly if they do not get the response I think they deserve.

Here is one that still has only 85 at the time of this posting. It was posted before I learned how to post using a cover picture...

great idea, i agree with ruth, this will become THE help-thread for builders! i see the beginners inceasing their skills, but the good builders find some tips and hints, too :-) have much fun with your thread!

Okay... So I have a couple of lots that haven't made the 100 mark yet. I consider the 100 mark to be the criteria for continuing to keep a lot posted on my page for downloading on the Exchange. I have recently learned how to upload with a cover picture, and those builds have exceeded 100 DLs. I work really hard to make beautiful creations, and it saddens me greatly if they do not get the response I think they deserve.

Here is one that still has only 85 at the time of this posting. It was posted before I learned how to post using a cover picture...

First I want to say that I'm glad that you have set yourself certain criteria iro your creations. it is a good way to improve on your skill and upon reaching your goals you get more satisfaction and inspiration for your future builds.
Then I've got 3 comments on this creation:
1) The house is too Box type and/or the roof can be played with to maybe make it 2 or 3 different styles/types of roof.
2) The landscaping is a bit on the dull side for me. Use some of the flat beach plants and scatter them in clusters on the beach, u can even lift some of the areas of beach to give it the effect that it's dunes and make some flower beds close to the house, just to brighten things up a bit.
3) The Interior pattern and wood color is just too much the same right thru the house. I would say, make the bedrooms a different pattern and the ensuite to suit the bedroom then.You can still use blue but play around with different shades of blue.
There's also a way to let u'r chimney blend in with the house. I don't know if u know how to do it. If u don't just let me know and we can go thru it.

great idea, i agree with ruth, this will become THE help-thread for builders! i see the beginners inceasing their skills, but the good builders find some tips and hints, too :-) have much fun with your thread!

Thank you very much.

We are looking forward to see you visit us and making your contribition to our thread.

Thank you so much for thinking up this thread. I love building, but mine always turn out like boxes, i think. i would love to know more about building interesting roofs, landscaping tips and some good basic floor plans. Again, great idea for all of us. This adds such a great dimension to the game.

I do have professional credentials in architecture and interior design, although I currently own my own event planning business.

My purpose for this lot was to provide a place for all of my sims to visit Recurve Strand, and to come back happy and healthy. This is the primary function of all of my community lots. The strand is so isolated, I thought it needed a pit stop.

I am very interested in anything that enhances our community, and Sims 3 gaming experience.

I am looking forward to being involved with such an austere group of polite, helpful, and constructive group of Simmers.

I do have professional credentials in architecture and interior design, although I currently own my own event planning business.

My purpose for this lot was to provide a place for all of my sims to visit Recurve Strand, and to come back happy and healthy. This is the primary function of all of my community lots. The strand is so isolated, I thought it needed a pit stop.

I am very interested in anything that enhances our community, and Sims 3 gaming experience.

I am looking forward to being involved with such an austere group of polite, helpful, and constructive group of Simmers.

Phew, I thought i had put you off our Thread. Ty for your patience.

I am looking forward to any future or current creations you can and will be sharing with us.

Thank you so much for thinking up this thread. I love building, but mine always turn out like boxes, i think. i would love to know more about building interesting roofs, landscaping tips and some good basic floor plans. Again, great idea for all of us. This adds such a great dimension to the game.

and for the floorplans, I'm going to ask u to go back to page 1 and go down to post 3. The heading should read 'Houseplan websites'.
There you will find Floorplans that I beleive will be to your liking and help you to make a decision as to excactly what type of house you want to start building.

I hope this is of help to you and feel free to come back and tell us if you need any further assistance.

Well I hesitate to add my thoughts after seeing XOX's initial reaction....but here it goes anyway:

I do think the interior could use some work. The saturation level on that blue pattern is too high for the amount of it you are using. It overwhelms the eye. Interiors look better with a mix of lower saturations and then a higher saturation for emphasis. Also I think it is a bit too much of that pattern period. Also overwhelming. No problem with echoing a theme pattern thoughout a house but it is more visually interesting and appealing if there is a mix of pattterns...there is actually a design mix formula..which I cant recall at the moment....but I find that sticking to one solid, and 2 coordinating patterns with similar tones, gives the room texture and interest without being too loud and busy. I would suggest picking a primary color and a complimentary one and then using those in different saturations and hues throughout the house with a third accent here and there for emphasis. It pulls the whole house together and gives it some flow.